Astral Express, Daziel's Room.
The Isolation Chamber was dimly lit, with only the faint glow flickering from instruments bringing a hint of life to this confined space.
Jingliu was still bound to a specialized chair, her eyes blindfolded with a black silk ribbon. On her exposed skin, faint red marks remained from Fu Xuan's forceful restraints.
She seemed to be asleep, her breathing steady and deep.
Daziel stood before the control console, watching the last line of data stream across the screen.
A crisp electronic notification sound rang out in the stillness, remarkably sudden.
[Target Character Jingliu Daze Value Increased by 1%]
[Current Daze Value: 509%]
[Task Completed, "12+ Star Rail Meme Production Method" Reward Has Been Credited, Please Check Your Account]
[Master, Rejoice! You Have Completed the Most Difficult Task Issued by This System! Saving the World Seems Within Reach!]
Daziel's fingers paused on the control panel, an almost imperceptible tremor spreading from his fingertips.
He slowly closed his eyes, a torrent of complex and profound knowledge instantly permeating his mind. It was a power capable of manually
manipulating the world's underlying rules.
However, after he fully received this information, the joy on his face froze, replaced by a kind of complex and unspeakable silence.
"Did it succeed?"
Jingliu's voice suddenly broke the silence. Although blindfolded, she was exceptionally sensitive to changes in the surrounding aura.
Daziel opened his eyes and looked at her. He first nodded, then gently shook his head.
Her blindfolded face turned in his direction, her brow slightly furrowed, "Can't you say it directly?"
Daziel walked in front of her. The air was filled with the residual warmth from exertion and a faint, cool scent from her body.
"I did indeed acquire a method to resolve the Inner World Meme,"
his voice was very low, with a hint of fatigue, "But for now, there's nothing that can be done."
"What do you mean?" Jingliu pressed.
Daziel leaned down, bringing his face close to her ear. His breath brushed her earlobe, and in a voice only the two of them could hear, he softly whispered the unbelievable "Production Method."
As he spoke, Jingliu's body began to stiffen.
When the last word fell, a flush of heat instantly rushed from her neck to her cheeks, even her earlobes turning a faint red.
Even with the blindfold, one could imagine her expression at that moment.
"I'm this old, is it appropriate to do such a thing?!"
Her voice suddenly rose, filled with indignation and disbelief, "Kid, you go find someone else! I'm not dealing with this anymore!"
Daziel pulled a wry face, straightening up, his tone, however, showing little disappointment: "I didn't expect you to agree anyway."
He shrugged, "But it's not hard to find someone to do this, it'll just take some time."
Jingliu turned her head to the other side, avoiding his gaze, which she couldn't see but could feel. Her breathing became slightly rapid, her chest subtly rising and falling. Silence stretched between them, only the low hum of the instruments echoing.
After a long while, she squeezed out a few words from between her teeth, her voice low and quick, as if afraid she would regret it.
"Then... then you go!"
She paused, seemingly making a difficult decision.
Daziel watched her reddened earlobes and tense profile, a fleeting smile in his eyes.
He agreed readily, his tone so relaxed as if nothing had happened moments ago, "Then just wait for my news."
Daziel turned and pressed the switch by the door.
The Isolation Chamber door silently swung open. Light from the outer room streamed in, outlining his figure.
Outside the door, Tingyun was kneeling on the soft carpet. Hearing the movement, she immediately looked up.
Her fluffy large tail was neatly tucked behind her, and her fox eyes were filled with submission and expectation.
She seemed to have been waiting here for a long time.
Outside the door, Tingyun was kneeling on the soft carpet. Hearing the movement, she immediately looked up.
Her fluffy large tail was neatly tucked behind her, and her fox eyes were filled with submission and expectation. She seemed to have been waiting here for a long time.
Her voice was sweet and docile, carrying a perfectly measured hint of concern, "You're all sweaty, you must be tired."
As Tingyun spoke, she naturally stood up, gracefully moving to greet him.
"The hot water in the bathroom has been drawn to the most suitable temperature, infused with the Foxian girl's favorite bath essence," she tilted her face slightly, her eyes sparkling, like a pet trying to please its master, "Besides the necessary braised duck, I will also serve you during your bath."
Daziel looked at her thoughtful and considerate demeanor, and the weariness in his heart seemed to dissipate considerably. He reached out and gently rubbed her fluffy fox ears, their touch soft and warm.
"Thank you, you're truly more considerate."
Daziel's tone held a hint of emotion, "Before, when I asked Sparkle to do this, she grumbled and complained, as if she had suffered the greatest injustice in the world."
"Hehe, after all, as a merchant, the most important thing is to cater to the customer's preferences," Tingyun lifted her eyes, enjoying his caress, her big tail wagging gently and happily behind her.
Inside the spacious bathroom, warm mist rose, and the air was filled with a sweet yet not cloying fragrance. The surface of the large bath was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the soft light from the ceiling.
Daziel leaned against the edge of the tub, feeling the warm water caress his body, dispelling his previously taut nerves.
Tingyun knelt beside him, her slender fingers skillfully and gently massaging his shoulders, her movements practiced and focused
Attentive.
Water droplets rolled down her smooth back, falling into the water, spreading tiny ripples.
Daziel closed his eyes, his voice sounding somewhat languid in the steam, "What did you think when you first entered the Isolation Chamber and saw Jingliu, the wanted criminal of the Xianzhou Luofu, in my room?"
Tingyun's massaging movements paused, then resumed their steady rhythm.
"At first, I was a bit shocked, of course," she openly admitted, her voice carrying a playful reminiscence, "But then I thought it was something Papa Daziel did, and it all felt perfectly reasonable."
She leaned in closer, her warm breath brushing Daziel's shoulder and neck, her tone filled with genuine admiration.
"Papa Daziel is so amazing."
Daziel heard this, and a playful curve appeared on his lips. He opened his eyes and turned to look at the Foxian girl right beside him.
Her eyes, in the shimmering steam, appeared exceptionally clear.
"You truly live up to the words 'versatile' and 'resourceful'," he commented, "Not only are you a qualified merchant, you're also a very qualified commodity."
Tingyun's smile didn't change in the slightest; instead, it grew even brighter.
She tilted her head, tiny water droplets clinging to her long eyelashes.
"Hehe," she chuckled, "Then, is there a reward?"
"What do you say?"
Before Daziel's words finished, he swept an arm around her, pressing her petite body into his embrace.
With a "splash," the clear water surface was abruptly broken, sending up a spray of sparkling water.
After a session of 'teachings', Daziel stood up from the bath.
Water droplets slid down his defined muscles, glistening under the soft light.
Tingyun immediately followed, taking a soft, large towel from nearby, meticulously wiping the water droplets from his body, her movements as gentle as if she were handling a rare treasure freshly recovered by the Blaze Merchant Guild.
After changing into a comfortable bathrobe, Daziel walked to the room's lounge area, sinking entirely into the soft sofa.
Tingyun had silently prepared a cup of hot tea for him, placing it on the low table beside him.
He picked up the teacup, blew on the steam, but didn't drink. He simply set it aside and then picked up his phone.
The screen lit up, displaying notifications for several unread messages.
They were from Boothill.
Daziel tapped open the chat, and a string of messages popped up.
[Boothill: Brother Daziel, the one you asked me to inquire about, Rappa, bless her heart, I've got news! Our Galaxy Ranger did indeed save someone like her before, and she even joined our Galaxy Ranger.]
Daziel's fingers tapped rapidly on the screen.
[Daziel: Where is she now?]
The message was almost instantly replied, showing the other party had been waiting for him.
[Boothill: Don't know, I checked the records, said she hadn't been heard from for a long time. When we saved her before, her mind was already a bit unstable, seemed to be contaminated by two Memes. Now there are so many desire-related Memes in the universe, she's probably infected with a third. An ordinary person gets infected with one and becomes abnormal, she's infected with three, phew, phew, phew, I dare not imagine.]
Looking at the text on the screen, Daziel's brow slightly furrowed.
Normally, a person would only carry one Meme, but in Rappa's case, she actually carried two. Besides her own "Ninja Meme," the other should be the "Sleep Alley Monkey's Meme."
What's even more outrageous is that it might now have become three...
How did she do that?
This can no longer be described as merely mentally unstable; it's more like a container filled with madness, ready to burst at any moment.
He was silent for a moment, his fingertips hovering over the screen for a long time before slowly typing out a reply.
[Daziel: Understood, Brother Boothill, I've truly troubled you.]
[Boothill: We're brothers, no need for formalities! He's a cutie, this primitive doctor is truly too wicked!]
Ending his communication with Boothill, Daziel leaned back on the sofa, closing his eyes in contemplation.
To retrieve someone contaminated by three Memes from the vast sea of stars, he couldn't do it himself, nor could he entrust the Galaxy Ranger to do it.
After all, their numbers weren't many, and there was no guarantee of a result...
It seems, he could only seek out *that* woman.
He lit up the screen again, finding a name in his contact list he hadn't yet contacted after adding them— Jade.
His fingertip tapped lightly, sending the message.
[Daziel: Lady Jade, is the transaction still on?]
There was no immediate reply.
Daziel wasn't in a hurry. He tossed his phone aside, picked up the cup of tea that had grown lukewarm, and took a small sip.
About ten minutes later, the phone screen lit up again.
[Jade: Oh, who do we have here, if it isn't Mr. Daziel. I thought you'd already forgotten about me...]
Between the lines, there was a subtle hint of teasing, and a faint, almost imperceptible joy.
Daziel didn't engage in much small talk. After a simple greeting, Daziel explained the general situation to Jade.
Jade finished reading the content Daziel sent her, and replied after a moment.
[Jade: And who is *this* woman now? For you, a busy man, to personally seek me out, she must not be anyone simple. Is she a past romantic entanglement you left on some planet?]
Daziel looked at the barbed question, his face expressionless.
[Daziel: I don't know her. I just want to help her out.]
This was the truth. He had already obtained the "12+ Star Rail Meme Production Method," so he no longer needed Rappa to shoulder the burden first. However, since she was in trouble, he should still help her.
[Jade: Mm-hmm, understood. Truly Mr. Daziel, with such enviable righteousness, you really should also join the Galaxy Ranger. However, according to the rules of my Lady Jade's Compassionate Pawnshop, if you wish to exchange for something of equal value from me, the remuneration...]
[Daziel: Any amount of Credits you want, it's negotiable.]
[Jade: I don't want any Credits...]
The message paused here for a moment, as if deliberately teasing him.
[Jade: I only want... to do it with me again... Besides you, I don't have the energy or desire to find anyone else in this lifetime...]
Daziel looked at the blunt and explicit words, a faint, almost imperceptible curve forming on his lips.
He could imagine the light gleaming in Jade's shrewd yet seductive eyes through the screen.
He didn't hesitate, responding crisply with two words.
[Daziel: Deal.]
Moments later, next to Jade's avatar, a dynamic, extremely happy emoji popped up.
Daziel was about to turn off his phone, his fingertip hovering above the screen, as if he suddenly remembered something, and asked another question.
[Daziel: That matter with Robin's brother, did you resolve it?]
He remembered the last transaction with Jade; besides Credits, an additional condition was for her to help handle the family's troubles concerning Sunday.
The message was sent, and Jade immediately went into typing mode.
[Jade: As for transactional matters, and something Mr. Daziel personally entrusted me with, how could I forget? Speaking of which, this matter also cost me quite a bit to manage relations up and down.]
The shrewdness and self-congratulation evident between the lines, Daziel understood with a single glance.
He chuckled softly, his fingers tapping slowly on the screen.
[Daziel: Alright, alright, I understand what you mean. I'll conserve my energy and prepare plenty of 'stock' to come find you.]
This sentence, carrying a hint of teasing and suggestion, was enough for that clever woman to understand his sincerity.
[Jade: Then wait for my news.]
Ending the communication, Daziel casually placed his phone on the sofa armrest, then picked up the teacup again. The tea inside had already turned completely cold.
Soft footsteps came from outside the door. Tingyun entered, carrying a plate of sliced fruit. She saw the cold tea in Daziel's hand, took it without a word, and replaced it with a steaming cup of fresh tea for him.
Leaning on the sofa, Daziel closed his eyes, his mind rapidly calculating his next possible moves.
A moment later, his phone emitted another crisp notification sound, breaking the room's tranquility.
____
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